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Love & Stilettos by Evelyn Lindell – Review by Wendy Wary

Love & StilettosLove & Stilettos by Evelyn Lindell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Granny steals the show in this one for me, with her zany character. Mia and Mitch are old friends who reconnect, and neither is sure where the other one stands on friendship/ romance with each other. But, Mitch is engaged, and Mia isn’t about breaking up a relationship, so she keeps her distance. There are some wild twists in this one and enough drama to fill a high school classroom. Fun read overall.

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Granting Katelyn (Sweet Valley Series) by S.E. Reichert – Review by Wendy Wary

Granting KatelynGranting Katelyn by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could barely put this book down. I love the strong female characters in this series, and this book was every bit as good as the first book. Katelyn is sweet as pie and tough as nails, and strong as an ox. Reading her story unfold as she rehabilitates a broken horse, and his rider in the process, was captivating. It will have you rooting for love and letting go of expectations and acceptance until the end. Simply beautiful.

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Cruel King by K.M. Scott – Review by Wendy Wary

Cruel KingCruel King by K.M. Scott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the storyline of this book, and some of the character development, but I felt like Matthias lacked some depth. The fact that no one checked him when he was being out of line in his cruelty to Ava and that he continued this brutish behavior as an adult made him less believable as the man he shows up as later in the book. Also, Ava’s dad seemed contradictory in his love and tenderness towards her and his actions following the snow storm. This one just didn’t really hit the spot for me, but I also tend to like more realistic romance stories. If you like drama, slow burns, and love/hate stories, you might enjoy it.

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Sliding into Home (Playing for Keeps Book 3) by Lauren Fraser – Review by Wendy Wary

Sliding into Home: A Secret Baby Sports Romance (Playing for Keeps Book 3)Sliding into Home: A Secret Baby Sports Romance by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This feels like a typical romance made slightly edgier by the fact the main character is a tattoo artist. With that being said, it’s a good read and the characters are pretty well developed; although for someone who’s not afraid to do what she thinks is right for her, Kia seems to be a bit more insecure than I’d expect. The supporting characters perfectly mesh into the story and being more depth to it. This is a nice, quick summer read.

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The Book of Hours (Coin/Hours Duology Book 2) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Wendy Wary

The Book of Hours (Coin/Hours Cycle 2)The Book of Hours by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This reminded me of a soap opera with all of the drama and action. Gabriela is barely holding things together when an obsessed fan of her work is willing to do whatever it takes to force her into selling to him. Following a suspicious accident, Gabriela’s friends reach out to Richard for help in protecting her; little do they know, the relationship between the two is more personal than anyone knew. Throw in a stalker paparazzo, and an international agency trying to snag a criminal, and this story has you guessing what’s next until the end.

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The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Wendy Wary

The Master of DemiseThe Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book kept me on edge trying to figure out who was behind the darkness that seemed to follow the lead character and the motive behind it. Was it coincidental or orchestrated? With each new twist and turn, my mind was going wild with possibilities, but it did not land on the actual culprit, so kudos to the author for keeping this reader on the hook the entire time. It’s a dark and haunted story, but fast paced and gripping. I also kind of hated the main character, even if I sometimes felt sorry for him, which caused some conflict for me. Well done!

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Talks Like Thunder (Red With Native Blood Book 1) by Randal Nerhus & Marjorie Carter – Review by Wendy Wary

Talks Like Thunder (Red With Native Blood: Novella One)Talks Like Thunder by Randal Nerhus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella was both inspiring and defeating. With the actual history of this time period matching up with the brutality toward native people, it was heartbreaking to read about this warrior girl’s coming of age while the bluecoats close in on her village and the suffering of her people. But her resolve and immense strength in such dire circumstances was also inspiring and awe-striking. This is a hauntingly beautiful story that makes me want to read more about the people of this time. Looking forward to the next novella in this series!

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Ghosts of Alda (The Obscured Throne Trilogy Book 2) by Russell Archey – Review by Wendy Wary

Ghosts of AldaGhosts of Alda by Russell Archey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having read the first book in this series, the author did not disappoint in delivering a horrific continuation of the story of Alda and the dark magic that consumes its world. Similar to the first book, it’s sectioned into almost a collection of short stories that build an overall world and characters and creatures unimaginable. The author’s detail of scenery, however, provides a clear picture of the horrors encountered. It is a slow and somewhat tedious read, but the way it unfolds along the way makes it so worth it, full of unpredictable twists that will make your jaw drop. I’m both scared and excited to see what happens next and I’m really rooting for some positive gains after the huge setback revealed in this leg of the journey.

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Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski – Review by Wendy Wary

Bound by the HinterlandsBound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the storytelling and characters in this book. I wish there had been a bit more clarity on the forest and it’s blight and the baron’s role in protecting his people from it, as I felt like it was vague until toward the end. I suppose that may have been on purpose to create more mystery, but it just caused me confusion. The baron and baroness have such a tender relationship, it was definitely the star of the storyline. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the tale and would recommend it to those who are looking for a good vs evil plot.

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Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 3) by KG Fletcher – Review by Wendy Wary

Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, #3)Breathless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m conflicted on this book because the romance parts are way too cheesy for my tastes (think Hallmark channel sweetness), but the story parts that aren’t focused on romance were really well written and definitely had me feeling emotional. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it felt like she decided to take a great story line and force this fairy tale like romance that didn’t come off very realistically. I don’t know if that’s just her style, but it wasn’t really my cup of tea; my mom, who lives for Hallmark movies, probably would love this, though. I enjoyed the characters, but struggled with how fast paced Hank and Ella Mae declared their love for each other and some of the more steamy parts between them were a bit over the top for me.

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Cecily in the City (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 3) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Wendy Wary

Cecily in the CityCecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this one up not having read other books in the series and now I’m going back to read those, too. The characters are fantastic and even though the story itself is not anything relatable to the average person (hello, pop stars, models, and fashion designers!), the struggles, life choices, and relationships are very much so. And for characters that are younger, they act very mature, which I could see making a positive influence on the young adult readers. Cecily and her friends are fun and supportive as they navigate plans for their future out of high school, and Cecily herself learns some life lessons about the entertainment business and that you can’t trust everyone, even when you’re a nobody just getting your feet wet.

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Raising Elle (Sweet Valley Series Book 1) by S.E Reichert – Review by Wendy Wary

Raising ElleRaising Elle by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a woman coming back from dire circumstances and finding healing and peace with her family. The characters are strong and resilient, and you also get a glimpse into some of the things that we find hard to let go in human nature. I found it to be relatable and entertaining. I hope to read more about the Sullivan family in the future, as Elle seems to have feisty sisters that are sure to have stories of their own to share.

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Where Fire Meets Flame (Yours From The Ashes Book 1) by Elena Kincaid – Review by Wendy Wary

Where Fire Meets Flame (Yours From the Ashes, #1)Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed the overall story, it felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped. The main character, Riley, supposedly is closed off to relationships, but after only spending a short amount of time with Tristan, she seems to open right up. Terry, Riley’s best friend, seemed like a fun and interesting character that barely received a cameo part in the story. The writing style, characters, and overall plot were good; the book just didn’t seem to reach its full potential. This one does have a decent amount of steamy scenes.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones Book 3) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Wendy Wary

Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones, #3)Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having not read any of the other books in the series, it took some time to get into the story and its characters. The world and character building, however, are quite fantastic. I enjoyed the struggle of this band of friends and enemies and the constant push and pull between characters, their views of each other, their past, and their politics and how those struggles weaved in and out of a story of war and sacrifice. The balance between what’s good and right and weighing the cost of that battle is a continous theme while unraveling the mystery of exactly what the narrator must do and give up to achieve victory.

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The Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam – Review by Wendy Wary

The Romanov HeiressThe Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story of the Romanov sisters, daughters of Russia’s last tsar. Mostly told from the viewpoint of the eldest sister, Olga, it offers up hope and possibilities in a fictional take on what might have been following their escape during the Russian revolution. While in hiding, the sisters share their aspirations of a better life and the author gives a glimpse of what it might be like dealing with the fear of being discovered and managing the aftermath of loss and suffering.

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Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Wendy Wary

Ale's Fair in Love and War (Love on Tap, #1)Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this cute and sometimes outrageous story about Chase and Hollis. The characters are well written, quirky, and fun. These business neighbors come up with some pretty good pranks on one another until one assumed prank ends up threatening the not-so-friendly bantering nature of their relationship and turning it into something more serious. As they try to work together on a common goal, things get a bit steamy; with all that heat between them as frenemies, it’s easy to see that translate into some bedroom tension. The question is whether or not the can both maintain their take on the world themselves attitude while simultaneously learning to trust and depend on each other. Such a fun read! I’m looking forward to reading some of the other books in this series.

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers Book 4) by Belinda Williams – Review by Wendy Wary

Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers, #4)Cry Baby by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She did a fantastic job weaving together a realistic story with romance and tragedy and characters who are just beautifully human. I would love to see more authors tackle the use of therapy to heal from trauma as a way to help normalize it, and this book made great use of it without it overtaking the story. I am not a crier, but this book definitely had me in tears. Can’t wait to read more from this series and author!

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Arrrgh! Me Hate To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Wendy Wary

Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait!Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This relatable story is about a little piggy pirate who can’t wait to go to big pirate school with her siblings. When the day finally arrives, all that anticipation becomes anxiety about change. A few puns that might get lost on younger kids, and a few silly things that are likely to make them chuckle. Illustrations are colorful and fun.

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Absolution by Anise Storm & Taylor L. Ray – Review by Wendy Wary

AbsolutionAbsolution by Anise Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book packs some heat and had an interesting storyline, but it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. What is it with women falling for men who treat them like crap? There was this sexual tension with some BDSM elements, but I found it difficult to get into because of the way Whitney allowed others to treat her. If you’re mostly just looking for something steamy to read with some kink mixed in, this fits the bill. Otherwise, I felt like the story and characters were a bit flat.

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A Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker – Review by Wendy Wary

A Dowry of Snails and MudA Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author did a great job creating interesting characters and weaving their story together in a way that was funny and unpredictable. I enjoyed how it spoke to the reader at some points. I loved how the characters were relatable and quirky; it was nice to see them not get hung up on their differences, but to recognize how that gave them added strengths.

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Underboss’s Retaliation (Sicilian Gods Book 2) by Via Mari – Review by Wendy Wary

Underboss's Retaliation (Sicilian Gods Book 2)Underboss’s Retaliation by Via Mari
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story follows Dominic and Emelia, who get tangled up after a battle between the two crime families in Las Vegas leaves Emelia in the hands of her enemy.
The good is that the overall plot and character development are decent; it’s an interesting storyline. There are some things I wasn’t all that impressed with, though, and some of it bordered on annoying. The use of “capiche” to emphasize certain statements struck me as a bit tacky in the dialogue. Some of the push-pull between the main characters felt forced or just not entirely plausible. There were a few points where the characters get flirty or frisky shortly after some big tragic event takes place, so it feels like the reader is getting steamrolled a bit for the sake of some manufactured sizzle.

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My Pearl Heart by J.N. Sheats – Review by Wendy Wary

My Pearl HeartMy Pearl Heart by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jasmine and Cadence are best friends. Cadence is marrying James, who maintains a weirdly flirty demeanor with Jasmine in private, especially for someone who recently got engaged. Jasmine has a long time boyfriend, Bryan, but neither seem all that invested in each other or the relationship.
Cadence is the typical spoiled rich girl who always wants all the attention and uses and abuses the people around her to get what she wants. She treats Jasmine like a door mat and everyone can see it except Jasmine, who just wants to be loved by someone. Throw in some business dealings and shady behavior, and it’s a twisty tale of deceit and letting go of the thorns that looked like roses.
All in all, I didn’t hate the book, but I also didn’t love it. This book just had a couple of themes that play into stories I don’t particularly care for: lead female is a weak, predictable character in an overplayed trope; and a “nice/good” person wears their kindness like some martyr badge, sacrificing themselves and their happiness while making themselves the underdog in their own story.

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Married Blind (King of Screen Book 2) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Wendy Wary

Married Blind (Kings of Screen, #2)Married Blind by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Up for an adventure and a nice paycheck that will help her pay off her sister’s medical bills, Aby decides to apply to be on a reality TV show where she’ll marry a celebrity without meeting him first. After three months of marriage, she can leave and go back to her life in New York. Although she goes in with a small spark of hope that she might actually fall in love, her main goal is to take a much needed vacation from her three jobs now that her sister’s cancer has gone into remission, and collect the paycheck that will maybe finally allow her to get back to her own interests.
Finn gets dragged into the show because his playboy antics have gone too far and if he doesn’t find a way to earn some good press, he could be looking at the end of his acting career. Basically, his manager forced him into it. He’s relying on his acting skills to make it through the next three months, get himself out of trouble, and put the whole thing behind him.
Things heat up between the couple during a honeymoon staged by the show in Bora Bora, despite Finn’s best attempts to avoid giving into his desires. And Aby questions how her new husband actually feels about her after noticing the facades he puts on when the cameras are rolling. Could his kindness just be an act?
As the end of the show approaches, a decision must be made on whether they want to remain married or get divorced. Insecurities begin to creep in and the differences in their lifestyles threaten to pull them apart. Is three months living in a bubble together enough to make things work outside of the show? Can they each get out of their own way enough to let love in?
The characters are adorable and funny. The story feels realistic and comes with some steam. Looking forward to more from this author.

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What Actually Happened to Isaac Moore by Samantha J. Rose – Review by Wendy Wary

What Actually Happened to Isaac MooreWhat Actually Happened to Isaac Moore by Samantha J. Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a peculiar tale that somewhat reminded me of Alice in Wonderland with a sci-fi twist. Isaac begrudgingly ends up on the adventure of a lifetime, meeting strange creatures and facing impending doom across different dimensions. The question becomes can he survive long enough to see his friend make it back home and keep his sanity in tact?

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Wendy Wary

Kamana Wanalaya for the HolidaysKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little cheese and a little spice makes for a nice story about a guy who believes in love and the girl he tries to convince it’s not just a sham. A friendly bet, aided by a beautiful island adventure and romantic resort experience, might just be enough to convince practical Tenley to give love a shot. But, that doesn’t mean Teagan has an easy job of convincing her that practicality doesn’t always work on matters of the heart.

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If I Had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi – Review by Wendy Wary

If I had a Magic WandIf I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With lyrical writing, the author did a great job of putting together thoughtful and inspiring wishes for anyone to share with their loved ones. I enjoyed that the illustrations depicted a diverse group of people. The book’s overall message feels sweet, genuine, and empowering – a great read for families.

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Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster – Review by Wendy Wary

Murder on oak streetMurder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this historical suspense. A murder investigation gets pushed aside even though the coroner’s assistant doesn’t think the facts line up. When he takes a job across the river, another death ties the deceased with his first case, and he tries to untangle all the lies and get to the truth in both deaths. A house full of people leaves plenty of suspects, but can he sort out what happened before someone else gets hurt? This one kept me on the edge of my seat, with lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed the historical notes at the end, which made the story feel like it could have happened in that very place.

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Defiant Princess (Mafia Elite Series Prequel) by Amy McKinley – Review by Wendy Wary

Defiant Princess (Mafia Elite Prequel)Defiant Princess by Amy McKinley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Big fan of this series, but this book really didn’t do it for me. Where the other books were packed with action, this one just didn’t have that same energy and pace. It also seemed to lack any real details about life at college for the mafia princesses, including their interactions with the Bratva. And I was really hoping it would detail what happened with the girls that had been alluded to in previous books, but sadly, it just left things as unclear as before.

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Ice Dance by Vik Azeem – Review by Wendy Wary

Ice DanceIce Dance by Vik Azeem
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The beginning is a little slow and dialogue seems a bit disjointed, but as the story unfolds, this book becomes hard to put down. It becomes this fantastical adventure with an original storyline that has the reader invested in not only Hassan’s success in his current predicament, but also in finding his path moving forward. An interesting twist in managing cultural expectations and an exploration in one’s own part in finding or running away from destiny.

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Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins – Review by Wendy Wary

Divided LivesDivided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story mostly follows Lottie, a female lawyer working for a corrupt justice, and how her life intertwines with an historic murder trial involving gangsters and police taking bribes. Lottie is bisexual, but must maintain a conservative appearance for her job. Once the trial gets assigned to her justice, she and her friends begin working behind the scenes to uncover who’s behind a blackmailing plot to manipulate the court proceedings and outcome. The characters are fun and interesting, and I enjoyed the historical tale.

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